Log-skidding machine.



J. R. MOGIPFERT. LOG smnnme MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6-,1909.

'- Patented Oct. 12,1909.

3 BHEET S-QHEBT 2.

I J; R. MOGIFFERT.

' 'LOG SKIDDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1909.

936,653. j Patented Oct. 12,1909.

' s SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN a. 'mmmm, or DULUTH, MINNEsoTa, ASSIGNOR TO CLYDE IRON WORKS, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION or MINNESOTA.

LOG-SKIDDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12," 1909.

Application filed I Bebruary 5, 1909. Serial No. 476,230.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN R. McGIFrnR'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Duluth, county of St. Louis, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Log-skidding Machines, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention while specifically termed a log-skidding machine, is adaptable in certain of its features at least, for general use in connection with logging operations in the forest, whether for skidding or loading. In its general construction, in other words, the present machine resembles the machines shown in Patents Nos. 833, 48, and 833,794, issued to me October 23, 1906. The machines there shown, however, aside from being designed primarily for loading logs onto cars, were furthermore designed to rest upon the cars, being slid thereover by means of a spotting cable operated by one of the engine drums. lhepresent machine, on the other hand is adapted to be run over the ground. and is so constructed as to render it capable of such use, irrespective of the eharactenof the ground, so that it'may be used in soft and swampy places, if found desirable. In addition to the foregoing, said machine presents other features of construction and operation constituting the present invention, all of which will be hereinafter fully described. and particularly pointed out in claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in .detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevational view ofmy improved skidding machine; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the slidable base that forms one of the features of the machine; Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of such base; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a detail of the machine: and Fig. (5 is an end elevational view of the same detail. 1

The slidable base A of the machine rests upon. runners A formed out of pairs of Spaced, longitudinally extending beams a (1'. Of these beams the two outermost a are higher than the two intermediate beams a, and plates 64 are secured to the under sides of the members of each pair, thus seen to consist of one high and one low beam, which plates provide the necessary broad bearing surface to support the machine when operating over low and swampy ground, see Figs.

.3 and &. At the sametime such broader tions or braces a may be used to further.

secure the webs of the beams together, if desired. At the front of, the machine, .instead of a simple transverse beam as a a heavy cross girder A built of three beams a and a plate a? is employed. Such girder supports the boom B of the machine, and also serves as a base for the guying drums, as will now be set forth.

The ends of the legs of the boom, which is of A-form, are stepped into sockets b/Fists. .l and 2 where they are pivotally retained by pins biu the usual fashion, while from the peak of said boom are hung the skidding blocks 7), and also other blocks 6 (shown in Fig. 2 only) through which pass the guy lines 0, the outer ends of the latter being attached to trees or other suitable fixed objectsat either side of the machine, in order to prevent the latter from tilting when skidding in logs.

Substantially central with respect to the machine base, is mounted an angular fourlegged frame A to the apex of which is attached the holding cable 0' for the boom. In such apex or peak of the frame is furthermore supported a sheave a over which may be run a third guy line a in case it is desired to guy the machine from the rear. It

is not contempaued that this third guy line will be regularly used. since it will only be necessary where the length oi the base is such as to endanger its tilting forward when the strain is thrown on the skidding lines 0 0 For working such skidding lines, two

drums C C.are provided in connection with the engineC the latter resting upon a deck A built upon thetransverse beams a. of the base, and,the drums being located innnediately in front of the same. In addition to such drums C C for the skidding lines, I provide a third drum C" "for moving, or spotting, the machine. The spotting cable 0" from such third drum is adapted (see Fig. 1) to be carried either forwardly or to the rear, by being passed under one or the other of rollers a, a in the machine base, and then passed through between guide sheaves a secured on the under side ot the reai'most transverse beam a of said base, or on the under side of the front girder A as the case may be. The disposition and construction of the guide sheaves a is more fully shown in Figs. 5 and (3, from which it will be seen that in order to prevent the cablefrom dropping out from between the sheaves, a small roller 11. journaled at. its ends in hangers u. is employed. Such hangers are pivotally supported from the beam a, so that the roller carried thereby inay be swung upwardly into the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. hen in this position, ample space is alt'ordcd,

through which to pass or drop the rings and hook on the end of the spotting cable c. but when in its lower, normal position, said roller obviously supports the cable at all times in strict alinement with the two guide sheavesf The operation of my improved skidding machine, will, it is thought, be fully evident from the foregoing description of the con struction and the mode of operation of its several elements. To mov athe machine from one point to another, the spotting cable c is drawn out through the COII'CSPUHdlHg end of the base, and attached to a stump, tree or other fixed object; then by winding in said cable, the machine will. be drawn in a corresponding direction. This will ordinarily be backwardly for obvious reasons. In order to set up the machine for operation, once the desired location has been reached, the guy lines 0 over the end of the boom are run out, their free ends similarly secured, and then the lines drawn taut, by winding the corresponding guying drums C. Where the third guying drum and line are used, such line will likewise be run out, secured, anddrawri taut. The skidding lines c a, or hoisting lines, as I shall term them,

generically, inasmuch as they are capable of functioning in either way, may then be run 1 out, preferably in opposite directions or sides ol' the machine, so that the strain ol" pulling in the logs may be more or less balanccd upon the boom.

()thcr modes ot applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re gards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent. ot such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1-- 1. In a machine ol. the class described, a slidable base comprising spaced pairs of loiigitudinal beams and plates secured to the undcrsidcs of such pairs of beams, respectively, thereby forming runners, substantially as described.

2. In a machine ol the class described, a

slidable base comprising spaced longitudinal beams, the two outermost of said beams be- .ing higher than the intermediate beams,

transverse beams resting on the latter, and plates secured to the undersidcs of said beams to form runners, substantially as described.

il. In a machine of the class described, a. slidable base comprising spaced pairs of iongitudinal beams, the two outermost of said beams being higher than the intermtaliatc beams, transverse beams resting on the lat.- tcr, and plates secured to the undersides of such pairs of longitudinal. beams, respectively, thereby forming runners. substantially as described.

t. In a. machine of the class described, a slidablo base comprising spaced pairs ol' longitudinal beams, the two outermost of .said beams being higher than the intermediate beams, transverse beams resting on said internualiate beams and terminally at tached to said outermost beams, and plates secured to the undersidcs of such pairs ol longitudinal beams, respectively, thereby forming runners, substantially asdescribed.

In a machine ol the class described, a slidable base comprising spaced pairs of longitudinal beams. the two outermost of said beams being higher than the intermediate beams, transverse beams, including a girder, resting on said intermediate, and terminally attached to said outcrmost, longitudinal beams, and platcs secured to the undcrsides of such pairs of longitudinal beams, respectively, thereby forming runners, substantially as described.

3. in a machine of the class described, a slidablo base comprising spaced pairs ol longitudinal beams, the two outermost ol' said beams bcing higher than the intermediate beams. transverse beams, including girder. resting on said inlcrnuuliatc, and terminally attached to said outermost, longitudiual beams, said girder being located near one end of said longitudinal beams,

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lL lI and plates secured to the imdersides of. such pairs of longitudinal beams, respectively, thereby forming runners, sulistantially as described. i

7. In a n'nrchine .o-flt he class (lg-ascribed,,the

combination of a. slidable base, a frame risboom, guyin'g. means for said boom, and spotting means for said base.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a slidable base, a frame rising above the same, a boom mounted upon one end of said base, a holding cable from said boom to said frame, hoisting drum provided with a cable passing over said boom, two guying drums "provided with cables likewise passing over said boom, and spotting means for said base.

S). In a machine of the class described, the combination of a slidable base, a frame risingabove the same, a, boom mounted upon one end of said base, a holding cable from said boom to said frame, a hoisting drum provided with a cable passing over said boom, two guying di'umsprovided with ca: bles likewise passing over said boom, a third guying drum having a 'cable passing over said frame, and spotting nieans for said base.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a slidable' base, a frame rising above thesame, a boom mounted. upon one end of said base, a holding cable from said boom to said frame, a hoisting drum provided with a cable passing over said boom, two guying drums provided with cables llkewise passing over said boom, a third guymg' drum having a cable passing over said frame, a "spotting drum provided with the intermediate beams, transverse beams,

a cable, and guide-meansadapted toreoeive said spottizig'cable when extended in either direction, I

' 11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a slidable base comprising spaced pairs of longitudinal beams and plates secured to the undersides of such pairs of beams, respectively, thereby form-- ing runners; of a boommounted on said.

base; a hoisting drum provided with a cable passing over said boom; guying means for said boom; and spotting means for said combination with a' slidable base comp-rising spaced pairs (if-longitudinal beams, the two outermost of-'sa- 1d beams being higher than including a girder, resting on said intermediate, and terminally attached to outermost, longitudinal beams, and plates secured to the undersides of such pairs of longitudinal beams,"respectively, thereby forming runners; Qff fia boom mounted upon said i girder; a deck supported upon said other transverse beams; and hoisting u'icchanism mounted on said deck. I

13. In a nun-lune of the class described.

the con'ibination with a slidable base (omprising spacedpairs of longitudimd beams;

the two outermost of said beams being.

14. In a machine of the class describe'i'l, I

thecombinatiou with a slida'ble base comprising spaced pairs of longitudinal beams, the two outermost of said beams being higher than the intern'iediate beams, transverse beams, including a girder, resting on saidintermediate, and terminally attached. to said outermost, longitudinal beams, and plates secured to the undersidcs of such pairs of longitudinal beams, res 'iectively, thereby forming runners; of a boom mounted upon said girder; a deck supported upon said other transverse beams; an angular framerising above said deck; a holding cable from said boom to said frame; hoisting mechanism mounted on said deck; and drums mounted upon said girder between the legs of said boom and provided with guy lines passing over said boom.

15. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination with a slidable base comprising spaced pairs of longitudinal beams, the two outermost of said beams being higher than the intermediate beams, transverse beams, including a girder, resting on said intermediate, and terminally attached to said outermost, longitudinal beams, and plates secured to the undersides of such pairs of longitudinal beams, respectively, thereby forming runners; of a boom mounted upon said girder; a deck supported upon said other transverse beams; an angular frame rising above saidrleck; a holding cable from said boom-to said frame; hoisting mechanism mounted on said deck; and drums.

means borne by said base, said means including two sheaves lying in substantially the same'plane, and an elongated guide member transversely disposed with respect to said sheaves and movable away therefrom, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a movable base, a winding-drum and cable mounted on said base for moving the same, and cable-guiding means borne by said base, said means including two'sheaves lying in substantially the same horizontal plane, and a roller adapted to lie transversely of said sheaves, said roller being pivotally hnn from an axis'above said sheaves so as to e movable away therefrom, substantially as described.

18 Cable-guiding means comprising two sheaves lying in substantially the same plane, and an elongated guide member trans- JOHN 11L MCGIFFERT- Attested by J. J. LUMM, EVELYN M. RYAN. 

